Hello everyone! My name is Rhianna Russell and I am the 2008 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo Queen. It is an honor for me to be representing the Elizabeth Stampede which has been voted the number one small market rodeo in the mountain states circuit for seven consecutive years! I am so proud to be apart of the Elizabeth Stampede team of volunteers that work so hard every year to make this rodeo a success.

Currently, I am a senior at Mullen High School where I have participated on the Swim and Dive team. Upon completion of high school I plan to attend Colorado State University where I will major in Business and Marketing and minor in Communications. I am the youngest of three children to parents, Jim and Kimberly Russell. I am also a fifth year member of the Westernaires where I participate in several events such as, dressage and romans. In my free time I enjoy swimming, spending time with my family and horses, watching movies, and playing with my rat terrier. 

After winning the competition in April of 2007 I was immediately swept into a whirlwind of excitment. My year kicked off in June 2007 at the end of our rodeo weekend. I have already had a great time getting to know some of the nicest people in the world, the volunteers of the Elizabeth Stampede. I have traveled across the beautiful state of Colorado promoting the rodeo and putting to good use the horse trailer generously sponsored by Parker Trailers. I have traveled as far north as Cheyenne and as far east as Wray, Colorado. Along the way I have encountered several flat tires and made friends that are sure to last a lifetime. Thankfully the year is not over yet. In fact, the best is yet to come. On June 6th, 7th and 8th, after a long year full of travel and excitment, I get to come home. I hope to share with you on that weekend the excitement and comeradery that is the Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo.

Hope to see you along the way,
Rhianna Russell

Hey All You Rodeo Fans!

My name is Amber Riester. I am the seventeen year old daughter of Shelly and David Riester, and a senior at Rampart High School. I live in Black Forest, Colorado with my family and two horses.

I am very excited to be serving as your 2008 Elizabeth Stampede Attendant! I enjoy traveling to different rodeos to promote and support the Elizabeth Stampede and to tell people how great our rodeo is. This year has been a blast and I can’t wait for the Elizabeth Stampede in June because I plan on it being amazing. I love rodeo, the country lifestyle, and all that it entails! The personality of the West shines through the cowboys and cowgirls that compete at the Elizabeth Stampede.

My hobbies consist of 4-H and country dancing. In 4-H, I do a variety of table top projects including ceramics and sewing as well as the horse project. I have competed in Horse Bowl, Hippology, and Horse Judging through 4-H and have learned so much. I love showing my horse Emma and competing in Ranch Horse Versatility. We have been the overall champion at our 4-H and local shows in Versatility and have been either overall or reserve overall at the El Paso County Fair for the past three years. I am currently having a lot of fun learning how to rope and hope to . I learned to swing dance at the Air Force Academy last winter and have been addicted ever since. After High School, I plan to continue to be active in the horse industry and go to college at either Colorado University in Boulder, University of Wyoming, or West Texas A&M. I am looking at areospace engineering, agri-business, and education as possible majors.

Thank you to the volunteers and sponsors– without them we would not have such a fabulous rodeo.
I hope to see y’all the first weekend in June at the Elizabeth Stampede!

Let’s Rodeo
Amber Riester, 2008 Elizabeth Stampede Attendant